MBDA innovating development landscapes in Nelson Mandela Bay: Port Elizabeth, 8 February 2018 — The MBDA is continuing to innovate developing landscapes in Port Elizabeth by keeping spaces such as Kings Beach Skatepark alive. Youngsters from Nelson Mandela Bay braved the rainy and chilly weather and came out in their numbers to compete in the Skateboarding Contest held at King’s Beach Skate Park last month. The aim of the King’s Beach Developmental Skateboarding Contest event is to promote and encourage skateboarding amongst the youth of Port Elizabeth, especially targeted at new, inexperienced and underprivileged skateboarders as well as beginners already skateboarding with the need for coaching, training and equipment. The goal is for the youth to develop a passion for skateboarding, which in turn allows them an alternative outlet for their energy, provides them freedom of creativity and expression, on and off their boards. Many skateboarders get inspired to develop into artists, musicians, film makers, photographers and even actors. Through the art of skateboarding a culture of creativity is created and inspired. The competition was divided into three sections to accommodate beginners, intermediate and advanced skateboarders. Some of the competitors travelled all the way from Jeffery’s Bay, Grahamstown and East London respectively. Kings Beach Skateboarding (KBS) has grown and the youth have started progressing in skateboarding. Session Magazine (the only skate magazine in South Africa) has taken interest in KBS and has done a feature on them. KBS also helps young kids progress in skateboarding and their personal lives. It teaches them to take the focus and energy they have on skateboarding and use it in the same manner at home and at school. “If these kids can adopt such positive behaviors and attitudes they will influence others within their age groups”, Reiyadh Saban (Founder of KBS) commented. He said that they hope to make this an annual event as it has turned out to be a success. They have other events planned for the year ahead such as Go Skateboarding Day around winter and Halloween Night Jam in October. KBS expressed their gratitude to the sponsors of the event. “We are extremely grateful to Luvuyo Bangazi from the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) who enabled them on their vision for the project as they have created a special … [Read more...]

Port Elizabeth, 6 February 2018 – Debating future strategies to curb gangsterism, reduce crime and enhance positive development in challenges neighbourhoods and communities was a key objective of the ‘Mandela Bay Think Tank Dialogue’ a multi-disciplinary stakeholder session hosted by the Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) from Monday 5th till Tuesday 6th.
The think-tank, aimed at exploring alternative approaches to development in volatile and fragile communities, brought together specialists and community members from around the country to discuss and debate some of the core issues affecting life and development in similar areas. Helenvale is currently the focus of the 5 million Euro German KfW Bank funded Safety and Peace through Urban Upgrading (SPUU).
Crime, gangsterism, youth, education, a lack of social cohesion, identity dynamics, a lack of recreational facilities, the role of the shadow economy and the influence of urban design all emerged as important areas of concern during the full-day discussions.
“There is a need for dialogue, a sharing of ideas and a disruption of the current systems. We need to break the generational trauma experienced by the people of Helenvale and move towards healing and inclusive development,” MBDA Board Chairperson Phil Goduka said.
Adopting a scenario planning approach to the think-tank, participants engaged in robust discussions and debates around some of the core challenges and issues facing an area popularly nicknamed ‘Katanga’ after the war-torn province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Prof Theodore Petrus, Research Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Forte Hare highlighted coloured identity dynamics and a ‘culture of poverty’ as major obstacles to development in places like Helenvale. He described a ‘culture of poverty’ as being characterised by negative traits such as a sense of hopelessness, apathy and disdain for authority.
“The older generation transfers these value systems and traits to the younger generation, and so regardless of any type of development initiatives that are undertaken, unless one breaks the values of the culture of poverty, the culture remains in place even though the surrounding environment might change,” he said.
“It is the culture that needs to be addressed in order for the surrounding infrastructure developments to really make a positive … [Read more...]